Penelope: “Hear! Ye suitors so brave! You! Who revel in my halls! Who among you succeed In stringing Odysseus’ bow And shooting the arrow Through those twelve axes I'll devotedly follow as bride.”
Odysseus (in mind): “I, I have returned to regain my throne And they, they will run away from my bloodbound hands! Taunt and scorn will turn to pain and fear. And fear and pain will turn to perdition and bane. They can‘t avert their fate.”
With trembling hands they rose to this challenge To bend this splendid bow, But all their effort ended in vain. This weapon obeys only its lord. And while they struggled for love, A beggar in disguise approached. Vengeance and wrath let sparkle his eyes. To the swineherd he revealed himself.
Odysseus: ”I, I have returned to regain my throne And they, they will run away from my bloodbound hands! Loyal you have been while I had to roam. I must take revenge on those preyed my halls. Now hear my command!”
(As the suitors wouldn’t have left the precious bow to an old beggar, Odysseus instructed Eumaeus to grab it and hand it over to him in a favorable moment. To make sure that not one single traitor would flee from Odysseus’ revenge, he furthermore advised Philotios to close all the doors when the right time has come.)
b: Approaching Doom
(Inside the palace)
Odysseus: “Ambitious suitors, rest from your strain, Tomorrow the gods will grant you strength. Give me that bow that I can attempt If in my old hands life does still dwell.”
Antinous: “Miserable stranger, why are you still here? Amongst us, kindly, we let you dine. Does your greed know no end at all? Your life is in danger, our mercy is consumed!”
(Odysseus had enough of the suitors words. He signed to Eumaeus to fetch his bow...)
Antinous (to Eumaeus): “What are you up to, malignant fool!? Lay down that bow or my wrath will strike you!” Telemachus: “Swineherd, proceed with your task! Fulfill the orders given to you!”
Eumaeos: “I am not daunted. Here it is. Take what has always been yours.” (to Eurycleia and Philotios:) "Close all the doors And keep them locked at all events!”
(The loyal servants fulfilled their orders and the king’s bow lay in Odysseus’ hands again...)
Odysseus (in mind): “All you traitors! Now my time has come! All you traitors! Revenge will be done! All you traitors! You will die by my hand! All you traitors! Now we come to an end!“
"My faithful friend in hand, Let me know that I am home! This feeling of which I dreamt so long... I will not fail. No mercy I will show. I can rely myself on my bow with my hand on the string!
”This is the moment When my journey has come to an end. I fought, I triumphed, I mourned the dead. All the misery has come to an end. For me, not for them. They have to pay, there is no option. For exploting and defiling my realm And abusing my kin!”
(With easiness Odysseus stringed his bow like a bard restrings his lute. Fear appeared in every suitor’s eyes and their skin turned pale.)
Hand off of the string, see the arrow fly. Passing those axes in a row, one after one. All the voices hushed and fear arose. Nobody knew what was going on, noone believed what he’s seen. In this moment - uncertainty.
c: The Palace of Vengeance
(Then fierce the hero o’er the threshold strode; Stripp’d of his rags, he blazed out like a god. Full in their face the lifted bow he bore, And quiver’d deaths, a formidable store; Before his feet the rattling shower he threw, And thus, terrific, to the suitor-crew.)
Odysseus: “One venturous game this hand hath won to-day, Another, princes! Yet remains to play; Another mark our arrow attains. Phoebus, assist! Nor be the labour vain.”
At first Antinous fell Speared by an arrow through his throat. The leader of the suitors drowned In his own malicious blood. Eurymachus and Amphinomus, They tried to stop Odysseus, But Telemachus and his father Sent them into the Erebus.
Both loyal herds did aid them In shining armour and lances strong. While Melanthios the gutless goatherd Armed the enemies with swords (out of the king's chambers).
Athena appeared In the shape of Mentor the wise. Odysseus: “Bestead me in this battle, True friend of mine.” Athena: “Don't lose your courage And keep up your revenge.” As a swallow she vanished, But left protection behind.
(As she guarded Odysseus from the spears the suitors threw at him.)
Odysseus: “Now it's our turn to throw Our javelins at the foes. Now it's our turn to throw Our javelins at the foes. Their sacrilege must end. Our home we must defend! Their sacrilege must end. Our home we must defend!”
(All of the remaining suitors were killed by Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philotios in a savage and cruel carnage after the foes had insulted and cursed heavily at the king and his family.)
Now injustice is redeemed. The righteous king returned. Peace is about to rise again Out of this bloodsoaked ground. Oh what a joy there was, He was reckoned by his friends, Embraced by his beloveth family, Tears filled his foreworn eyes.
(Medon the herald they spared and also Phemius the blind bard and all 12 wicked maids were hanged outside the halls. At last Melanthios died without feet, nose, ears and hands. The king smoked out his hall from greed and with this his work was done.)Teksty umieszczone na naszej stronie są własnością wytwórni, wykonawców, osób mających do nich prawa.
